November is already upon us, and it won’t be long at all now before preparations begin in earnest for the holiday season. Schedules and mental checklists will burgeon with grocery stocking, gift shopping, cooking, cleaning, packing, and on and on, and anything lacking a clear deadline in bold-faced, red letters will be pushed off for the new year.
The very idea of buying a new home and moving into it with all of that going on – it’s a non-starter.
Or… is it?
As ambitious as it may seem on the surface, November and December are actually great months to tackle a move – here’s why.
The housing market slows down at the end of the year – which gives prospective buyers an upper hand.
Any real estate professional or home builder can tell you – the housing market moves slow at the end of the year, and often doesn’t pick up til the weather starts to thaw. From the holiday tumult described above, to the general dreariness of the time of year (especially in our neck of the woods), it’s easy to see why. But for a savvy buyer, it represents a huge opportunity.
Sellers with homes on the market this time of year are often incentivized to move quickly, and are willing to take less than they otherwise might in order to avoid sitting on the property for months until the market heats up. And new construction home builders, in anticipation of the slower winter months, often plan special discounts or rate buydown promotions for the end of the year. As a matter of fact, we at Arise Homes are offering rates as low as 3.99% and up to $10,000 in flex cash to prospective buyers during this holiday season.
The other advantage of the slower market for prospective buyers is that it’s easier to take your time and evaluate your options – with less buyers competing against you, it’s less likely you’ll lose a home you love to another offer, and you can check out communities or areas you otherwise might not have had time to.
You’ll save on the move, too.
Less prospective buyers in the housing market means less people moving, which means it’s a great time to save some money on movers. You’ll never get a better rate or have an easier time scheduling a crew than you will in November, December, and January. Even if you planned on moving yourself, it might be worth getting a quote to see if it’s worth saving your own energy.
Once you settle in, you’ll be able to enjoy the holidays in your new home.
It might take some doing, but the payoff will be worth it. Picture yourself sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner at the head of the table in a new dining room, or trimming the Christmas tree by the light of a new fireplace. When it comes time to ring in the new year, you’ll have one giant resolution already taken care of, and you’ll be able to shift your attention to more fun and rewarding projects in the spring.
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As crazy as it sounds, if you’re in the market for a new home, the holiday season may be just the right time to make a move. We’d love to meet you at our model home in our Stone Ridge community to discuss this prospect and help you determine if it makes sense for you.
